Tau Beta Pi is the only engineering honor society representing the entire engineering profession. It is the Nation's second-oldest honor society, founded at Lehigh University in 1885 to mark in a fitting manner those who have conferred honor upon their Alma Mater by distinguished scholarship and exemplary character as students in engineering, or by their attainments as alumni in the field of engineering, and to foster a spirit of liberal culture in engineering colleges. 
 

There are now collegiate chapters at 242 US colleges and universities, 39 active alumni chapters in 16 districts across the country, and a total initiated membership of approximately 554,000.